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The Indianapolis Colts released running back Trent Richardson last week in a move that everyone knew was going to happen for months. It was assumed that Richardson would get another shot, and it sounds like he's found a landing place.
According to Comcast SportsNet California's Scott Bair, Richardson will be signing with the Oakland Raiders.
Per a league source, the Raiders are signing RB Trent Richardson.
— Scott Bair (@BairCSN) March 17, 2015
ESPN's Bill Williamson has since confirmed Bair's initial report, and so it sounds like the running back will be getting a third shot with an NFL team. He entered the league as the number three overall pick in the 2012 draft by the Cleveland Browns, but after just seventeen games they shipped him off to the Colts in exchange for a first round pick. In 31 total games with the Colts (including playoffs), Richardson rushed for just 978 yards and six touchdowns combined while averaging 3.06 yards per carry.
Richardson flat out stunk in Indianapolis and never got going, and there were obviously enough concerns from the Browns that they were willing to trade him away. Now, joining his third team entering his fourth season, Richardson appears to be heading to the Oakland Raiders. That's not exactly a place where players go to revive their careers or where running backs go to excel, but the hope is that Richardson can contribute more to the Raiders than he did with the Colts. It's a low-risk signing and I'd imagine Richardson will have to fight for a spot in training camp. If it works out, that's great, but if not, the Raiders likely won't be hurt too much by it.
Ultimately, I wish Richardson the best. Things didn't work out in Indianapolis, but hopefully he can get it figured out in Oakland.
UPDATE (1:05 p.m. ET): The Raiders have officially announced the signing:
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p>The Raiders have signed free agent RB Trent Richardson. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/WelcomeToTheFamily?src=hash">#WelcomeToTheFamily</a> <a href="http://t.co/ZHmkFPVb01">pic.twitter.com/ZHmkFPVb01</a></p>— OAKLAND RAIDERS (@RAIDERS) <a href="https://twitter.com/RAIDERS/status/577877834917486593">March 17, 2015</a></blockquote> <script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>